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We've just received a Roadhawk in-car camera/GPS black box system for review.

Already common in other countries, the Roadhawk is a small digital camera that mounts on your windscreen and constantly records the view to SD card together with G-Force, GPS location and date/time and speed.

When the card is full it overwrites the data constantly recording in a loop. If however it detects adverse G-Force i.e. in the event of an accident, it will log and save the preceding video as evidence. There is also a manual emergency button on the underside that will trigger the device should you wish to save video of any other event.

The Roadhawk comes with a very capable PC software package that can read the data files and play the video together with a Google map overlay and graph of G-Forces experienced. The evidential data this provides should you be the victim of someone else's bad driving cannot be over estimated.

We will be road-testing this device over the next two weeks but in the meantime you can read more at Roadhawk's website here.

Comments

Posted by worried on Tue Jun 09, 2009 12:10 pm

any clue how much it costs, their web site tells you nothing, not even a valid retailer

Posted by peak1 on Tue Jun 09, 2009 1:15 pm

worried Wrote:

any clue how much it costs, their web site tells you nothing, not even a valid retailer

Following the link on RoadHawk's website to DogCamSport shows a price of £279.95 (Inc VAT)

Posted by RoadHawk on Tue Jun 09, 2009 1:27 pm

Hi,

I've updated the roadhawk website to make it a bit clearer.
At the moment, we have no shop attached to the roadhawk website but you can purchase it from our other online store.

Kind Regards
Mark

Posted by bedbug on Tue Jun 09, 2009 3:20 pm

Oooh I want one... On account of the fact I can't afford one, this looks like a great prize for a PGPSW competition, ideally one that only I can enter!

...... this looks like a great prize for a PGPSW competition, ideally one that only I can enter!

Are you paying attention Darren?

Posted by gem on Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:27 pm

gem Wrote:

bedbug Wrote:

...... this looks like a great prize for a PGPSW competition!

Are you paying attention Darren?

Oops, I meant to have deleted the line about having just one entrant. Make that two!

Posted by mostdom on Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:33 am

I would like to see an example of the three video formats (320x240@30fps, 640x480@30fps, 1280x960@5fps) when you do your review. I would like to know it could pick up that all important number plate without compromising the video flow.

I would like to see an example of the three video formats (320x240@30fps, 640x480@30fps, 1280x960@5fps) when you do your review. I would like to know it could pick up that all important number plate without compromising the video flow.

Nice kit!

I've only had a brief test with it at 640x480 and the quality is much better than I'd expected.

I will of course have some sample footage in the review (now that I know how to export it!).

Darren Griffin - Editor

Posted by mostdom on Wed Jun 10, 2009 10:47 am

Darren Wrote:

I've only had a brief test with it at 640x480 and the quality is much better than I'd expected.

I will of course have some sample footage in the review (now that I know how to export it!).

If you visit Roadhawk's site you can download the app and two sample videos. One is of an accident and makes your blood curdle to watch it, especially when you step through the final moments frame by frame.

The examples fully match the quality I'm getting. HTH

Darren Griffin - Editor

Posted by mostdom on Wed Jun 10, 2009 2:57 pm

Bang to rights and spread all over the road! That'll learn em!

Clearly see the benefits of the device but I am interested as to how far away a british number plate becomes unreadable. Either way I'm still interested.

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